Wi-Fi Gets Personal — Really Personal
You can get wireless data access just about everywhere these days, from your bathtub to Barcelona’s city streets, so why not in your body? Well, soon you will — or at least, that’s the vision of a handful of emerging biotech companies. As the Boomer generation ages, companies eyeing the overburdened U.S. medical systems see opportunities to extend the reach of existing medical care, free up health resources for those who need them most, and encourage long-term health and fitness using technology. Here’s a look at a few of the high-tech devices aiming to revolutionize health care:
CardioNet
In order to diagnose heart problems, patients are traditionally hooked to electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors and confined to bed while their heart rates are monitored. But without the triggers of daily life — stress, activity and other environmental issues — heart conditions are difficult to observe and diagnose. CardioNet, which went public in March 2008 and whose shares are still trading above their IPO price, has come up with a wireless solution that allows patients to wear ECG sensors that transmit information wirelessly to a handheld device. The CardioNet monitor, which is equipped with a CDMA 1X radio, sends data via the Sprint network back to doctors, who can monitor heart activity under real-world conditions.
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